BY THE time Rocky Fielding made his professional debut, Carl Dilks was already a wise head in an often uncompromising business.

Whilst Fielding persevered with dreams of breaking into the higher reaches of the amateur game, Dilks was learning about the sobering realities of being a professional.

Dilks had already gone through the Prizefighter grinder, been cruelly denied the Commonwealth title and then lost in a whirlwind round to James DeGale, before Rocky started punching for pay.

Yet when they meet on Saturday night at the Olympia for the vacant English super-middleweight title, there is no mistaking who has their name in lights.

Fielding is a fighter on the rise.

Catapulted by his Prizefighter triumph last year, buoyed by his legions of fans and backed because of his talent, the 25-year-old is being primed to make serious inroads at 12st.

Dilks is not blind to the fact that a lot of people believe his best days are behind him and that Fielding enters the ring as the favourite.

But the pro game has made the 29-year-old battle hardened and resilient, so Dilks is refusing to conform.

“They have picked me because they think I’m done,” he said.

“I got caught in the headlights against James DeGale and froze a bit, then went over to Germany and got stopped in my last fight against Robert Woge (KO3), so they’re thinking they’ve picked me at the right time.

“They’re wrong, I’m so fit, so focused and so strong. I’ve been banging cruiserweights over the gym so come fight night I’m here to rock n’roll, I’m here to burst the bubble.

“They have already got people lined up for him further down the line, which is fine, because I don’t mind being the underdog.

“I’ve sat here quietly because in the past I’ve shouted my mouth off and looked stupid. I’ve got no pressure on me and I know for a fact that I’m going to walk through walls come Saturday night.”

Fielding remains remarkably calm and level-headed for a man under the spotlight.

But then, this has always been his way and is part of the appeal for his hordes of supporters.

Rocky handles the expectation well but also has the right to feel confident.

In March last year, Fielding accepted the call as a late replacement for Prizefighter and proceeded to rip through the field.

The jackpot of £32,000 dropped into his bank account but, significantly, he no longer had to look too hard for a promotional deal.

Frank Warren came calling and then earlier his year, he signed a deal with Eddie Hearn.

Fielding admits that his career would be different if it had not been for Prizefighter and a title fight with Dilks may still be some way off, but rightly he makes no apologies for making the most of his opportunities.

“It has put my career a year ahead,” said Fielding (11-0).

“If I hadn’t have won Prizefighter I could still be fighting on small hall shows and trying to break through the hard way and impressing promoters. A chance came in Prizefighter and it is a chance you have to take if you want to break through. It paid off for me. There’s no looking back now, only forward.

“I’ve definitely improved a lot since Prizefighter. I’ve had two stoppage wins in my last two fights which shows that. I had an eight month period of inactivity but I stayed in the gym and learnt loads from people such as Martin Murray and Tony Bellew.”

Fielding was meant to fight Wayne Reed for the Central Area title tonight but when he was forced to withdraw, Dilks moved onto the horizon.

“I told Eddie to get him,” Rocky revealed.

“He rang to tell me about Reed pulling out and said ‘here’s a few names to consider, but is there anyone you can think of?’

“I said get me Dilks. It’s good for Liverpool and now it’s on.

“He’s a bigger threat than Reed, but not much of a big threat.

“Carl’s had a good career, boxing for titles and he’s experienced. So it’s a totally different opponent than Wayne Reed but I know what I’ve got to do to win.

“I could stop him but I’m not going to say that I definitely will because I respect him.

“The stoppage might come but we have just been working on ways to break him down and showcase what I can do.”

Dilks plans to cause an upset and has already surprised many by accepting a return to the super-middleweight division.

A few months ago, boiling down to 12st seemed a near impossible task.

“I think there was a point where I didn’t think I would ever make super-middle again, but I’ve just been lazy,” he added.

“I never fully committed myself to my running and weights. I was trying to cut corners but since being with my new trainer Tony Quigley, I have really knuckled down. He takes no c**p off me – I either do it or get slapped. I need that. Because I’ve been in the army, I need that drill sergeant mentality and if I’ve doing something wrong then I’ll get a slap when I go back to the corner. That gets the best out of me.

“But if get beat on Saturday, that will be me. I won’t fight again.

“I’ll retire because I won’t become a stepping stone and a test for someone.

“If I’m not going to do it then I won’t box. It is now up to me to prove the doubters wrong."

Win tickets for Prizefighter >>>>>>>>>

Win tickets for Prizefighter

THE ECHO has teamed up with iconic British fight brand Lonsdale to offer readers the chance to win one of four pairs of tickets for tomorrow night's Prizefighter competition – promoted by Matchroom Sport.

Prizefighter Lightweights II will be screened live on Sky Sports and involves eight boxers competing in a one-night elimination tournament.

The event will take place at the Olympia, Liverpool on Saturday night.

Lucky ticket winners will see former British champions Derry Mathews, Anthony ‘Million Dollar’ Crolla and Gary Sykes competing as part of the Prizefighter card.

Headlining the show will be Rocky Fielding's clash with Carl Dilks for the English super-middleweight title.

All boxers taking part in Prizefighter will be wearing golden Lonsdale gloves, as part of Lonsdale’s ongoing sponsorship of the series.